Hindutva spreading its tentacles in Kashmir: Mirwaiz

Srinagar, May 18, 2015 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said that India is attempting to create fault lines among the people as part of a concerted campaign to distract the focus of Kashmiris from their fundamental aspirations. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressing a seminar organised in connection with the Hafta-e-Shahadat programme — to commemorate the martyrdom anniversaries of Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq, Abdul Gani Lone, and victims of the Hawal massacre – at the APHC headquarters, said, “The authorities are trying to change the public perception in Kashmir.”

Referring to the controversy on Article 370, he said the authorities packaged the issue in such a way that it was projected as a concession to Kashmiris. The Mirwaiz said Hindutva was spreading its tentacles in Kashmir. “India is now hell bent on creating fault lines in Kashmir by promoting the narrative that Kashmiris are not united in their demand. Their immediate policy is to hold the territory by military means while their long-term goals are to divide Kashmir on sectarian, religious and ethnic lines to dilute the Kashmir dispute and Kashmiri identity.”

He also pointed out that it was useless to seek justice from a territory, which justifies AFSPA, other black laws and militarisation in Kashmir. “India state has internally become more radical and is promoting religious terrorism.”

He added that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are demanding the right to self-determination on the basis of their Kashmiri identity: “We should not shy away from expressing our Muslim identity and character as being the basis for solving the Kashmir dispute. But that does not mean we are overlooking the rights of minorities.” Paying tribute to martyrs of Hawal massacre, Mirwaiz said people of Kashmir has sacrificed their lives for Kashmir movement.